Painting guard

ABSTRACT

A painting guard for masking a wall portion while painting an adjacent portion. The painting guard comprises two interfitting L-shaped members wherein the outer L-shaped member has a vertical section which substantially overlaps the vertical member of the inner L-shaped member. The painting guard is used in association with two strips of masking tape or the like, wherein the first strip is positioned partially on the vertical section of the inner L-shaped member between the two L-shaped members, and the second strip is positioned on the vertical section of the outer L-shaped member and in partial contact with the first strip.

United States Patent 1 Kus [ 51 June5,1973

[54] PAINTING GUARD [76] Inventor: Alvin P. Kus, 43 Better Way,

Springfield, Mass. 01 1 19 [22] Filed: July 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 268,867

[52] US. Cl ..ll8/505 [51-] Int. Cl. ..B05b 15/04 [58] Field of Search ..118/504, 505, 301; 1 17/85, 38

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,890 3/1932 Kennedy.....

2,098,005 11/1937 Holt 2,517,220 8/1950 Lister.....

2,538,743 l/I95l Alston....

2,893,042 7/1959 Paskaly ..1l8/504 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 1,205,043 9/1970 Great Britain ..1 18/505 vertical section of the Primary Examiner-Morris Kaplan Attorney-Alonzo L. Neal, John .I. Dempsey and Arthur F. Dionne [57] ABSTRACT A painting guard for masking a wall portion while painting an adjacent portion. The painting guard comprises two interfitting L-shaped members wherein the outer L-shaped member has a vertical section which substantially overlaps the vertical member of the inner L-shaped member. The painting guard is used in association with two strips of masking tape or the like, wherein the first strip is positioned partially on the inner L-shaped member between the two L-shaped members, and the second strip is positioned on the vertical section of the outer L-shaped member and in partial contact with the first strip.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAINTING GUARD BACKGROUND This invention relates to a shielding or masking device for use in painting. In particular, it relates to a painting tool which permits painting to the very edge of a wall, ceiling, floor, etc., without the danger of accidentally painting onto an adjacent wall or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a painting guard device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a painting guide device that is held in place without the use of ones hands.

A further object of this invention is to provide a painting guard device that offers a good seal between the painted area and the area being protected from the paint.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a painting guard device which economizes on the use of masking tape.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by referring to the following description and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the painting guard of the present invention in a disassembled state;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an assembled painting guard having portions broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

As shown at in FIG. 1, the painting guard of the present invention is comprised of two major parts, a base 12 and a cover 14. As is clearly depicted, both the base and the cover 12 and 14 respectively, are L- shaped. In the case of the base, the L-shaped configuration is provided by a vertical wall engaging member 16 and a horizontal or coupling member 18. The vertical member 16 is provided with tape positioning means such as line 20 which is scribed or printed on the inside face thereof. The purpose of this line will be discussed below.

The cover 14 is also comprised of a vertical member 22 and a horizontal member 24. As will be noted, however, the vertical member 22 of the cover 14 is approximately 40 percent greater in height than the vertical member 16 of the base 12. The purpose of the overlap will be explained below with regard to the use of the device.

As is further shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the painting guard 10 is provided with means for releasably attaching the cover 14 to the base 12. As depicted, this is accomplished by a U-shaped annular section 26 disposed on the horizontal member 24 of the cover 14 and the horizontal member 18 of the base 12. This annular section or annulus is formed beneath the horizontal member 24 and faces or opens in a forward direction, i.e., towards the plane of the vertical member 22 of the cover 14. The annulus is formed so as to be engageable with the horizontal or coupling member 18 of the base 12 to provide an interfitting relationship between the cover 14 and the base 12.

As will be most clearly seen in FIG. 1, both the base 12 and the cover 14 have longer vertical members 16 and 22 respectively, than horizontal members 18 and 24 respectively. The cut-away sections at each end of the two horizontal members provide for the use of two or more painting guards in angular abutting relationship for painting in corners and the like.

The use of the painting guard of the instant invention is best depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. As is shown, both the base 12 and the cover 14 are used in conjunction with strips of masking tape or the like. To prepare the guard for use, a strip of masking tape 28 is applied to the inside face of the vertical member 16 of the base 12. The tape is applied so as to position one edge thereof adjacent the scribed line 20. When the line 20 is scribed on the vertical member 16 approximately X0 inch from the top thereof, the use of inch masking tape is recommended so as to provide a k inch overlap by the tape 28.

Once a strip of tape has been applied to the base 12, as described above, the cover 14 is joined to the base 12 by engaging the coupling member 18 of the base 12 with the annulus 26 formed on the horizontal member 24 of the cover 14.

At this point, a second strip of masking tape 30 is applied to the base and cover combination with one edge of the tape 30 aligned and adhered to the free edge of tape 28 and also to the outside face of the cover 14.

As is clearly depicted, a substantial portion of the tape 28 on the base 12 is backed by the cover 14 as provided by the substantial difference between the heights of the vertical members 16 and 22 of the base 12 and cover 14 respectively.

Once the paint guard parts have been assembled with the masking tape as described above, the device is ready to be used in painting.

When used as an edge guard in painting, the advan tages of the device become quite clear. First, it is very easy to apply to a surface with one hand by merely grasping the combined horizontal members 18 and 24 of the device with ones fingers and pressing the vertical portion of the device against the surface to be protected.-

In that a large area of the adhesive face of tape 28 comes into contact with the surface to be protected, the device is easily self-supported on a wall or the like in any position.

Removal of the device for placing the same in a new position or for redressing it with tape is also easily accomplished. In this case, the interfitted horizontal members 18 and 24 are merely grasped and lifted with a rolling motion from the surface to which it is adhered.

One of the major advantages of the device of the present invention resides in the fact that the masking tape 28 remains quite serviceable even after numerous applications and removals of the device. This advantage is attributable to the overlapping relationship be: tween the vertical members 16 and 22 of the base and cover 12 and 14 respectively and the contact between the top edges of the two strips of tape 28 and 30 above the top edge of the vertical member 22 of the cover 14. As a major portion of the tape 28 is backed by the cover 14, the tape 28 is supported during application and removal and, therefore, tends not to tear or crumple. Additionally, the contact between the top edge of tape 30 and the top edge of tape 28 provides for additional support for the tape 28 as well as providing for a firmer and truer painting edge and drip suppressor.

As will be clear to those who are skilled in the art, the painting guard of the present invention may be formed of a number of materials, such as plastics or metal. In view of the design of the two main parts thereof it is particularly adapted for manufacture from sheet metal, such as aluminum or galvanized sheet iron.

What is claimed is:

l. A painting guardfor use in association with strips of masking tape or the like, said painting guard comprising an L-shaped base having a horizontal and a vertical member, an interfitting L-shaped cover having a horizontal and a vertical member, a strip of masking tape positioned on each vertical member of said base and said cover, said strips of masking tape extending beyond the edges of said base and cover to a point where they are adhered together along their free edges, said vertical member of said cover being of substantially greater height than the vertical member of said base, and means for releasably attaching said cover to said base.

2. The painting guard of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably attaching said cover to said base includes a U-shaped annular section disposed beneath said horizontal member of said cover for engaging the horizontal member of the base.

3. The painting guard of claim 1 including tape posi tioning means disposed on the vertical member of said base.

4. The painting guard of claim 1 wherein the height of said vertical member of said cover is approximately 40 percent greater than the height of the vertical member of said base.

5. The painting guard of claim 2 whereinsaid U- shaped annular section is integral with the horizontal member of said cover.

6. The painting guard of claim 1 wherein said vertical members of said base and cover are greater in length than said respective horizontal members to thereby provide for the use of two painting guards-in angular abutting relationship. 

1. A painting guard for use in association with strips of masking tape or the like, said painting guard comprising an Lshaped base having a horizontal anD a vertical member, an interfitting L-shaped cover having a horizontal and a vertical member, a strip of masking tape positioned on each vertical member of said base and said cover, said strips of masking tape extending beyond the edges of said base and cover to a point where they are adhered together along their free edges, said vertical member of said cover being of substantially greater height than the vertical member of said base, and means for releasably attaching said cover to said base.
 2. The painting guard of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably attaching said cover to said base includes a U-shaped annular section disposed beneath said horizontal member of said cover for engaging the horizontal member of the base.
 3. The painting guard of claim 1 including tape positioning means disposed on the vertical member of said base.
 4. The painting guard of claim 1 wherein the height of said vertical member of said cover is approximately 40 percent greater than the height of the vertical member of said base.
 5. The painting guard of claim 2 wherein said U-shaped annular section is integral with the horizontal member of said cover.
 6. The painting guard of claim 1 wherein said vertical members of said base and cover are greater in length than said respective horizontal members to thereby provide for the use of two painting guards in angular abutting relationship. 